Portable scaffolding



APril 14 1953 E J. G51-TY lErm. `2,635,014

PORTABLE: scAFFoLnING Filed Sept. 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 33 @#90686434f J zny-WW I 94 lI F 8|; j W/ attorneys mm w 5 G O 3 5 Z9 8 7 6 m A m|404 M7, #owja Jo @wifi m PINI l I hvhnuhh IIYIII 3 a, e 4 5 l 0M H nu..3 A. 6 u l, Z .T .\M\\\\. Zw. un o AHI x LIL .TJ n

April 14, 1953 E. .11. GETTY Erm.

PORTABLE SCAFFOLDING Filed Sept. 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 April 14,1953 E. J. GETTY ET AL 2,635,014

PORTABLE SCAFFOLDING Filed Sept. 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www5(Ittorneg Patented Apr. 14, E1953 j UNITED PORTABLE SCAFFOLDINGEllsworth J .Getty and Revere E. Clapp,

' Groton, Conn.

f j 3 Claims.

' l Thisinvention relates to a portable scaffolding and, moreparticularly, to a structure provided with a' movable base upon whichbase is supported one or more platforms upon which workmen may stand orsit, the platforms being elevatable to the proper height. Y Y

' In many kinds of Work, `and particularly in connection with paintingor decorating work, `it vis necessary to provide scaffolding upon which`the workmen may stand. Suchscaffolding is usually of a temporarycharacter and notonly requires considerable time to vconstruct anddismantle, but also is usually stationary and must be dismantled tobetmoved from one place or wall to another and usually cannot bevariedas to height.

It is contemplatedby the present invention to provide'a'portablescaffolding mounted uponl a movable truck or basestructure so that itmay readily be moved from one' place to another, and to provide powermeans'` for moving the device. Uponthe truck are mounted a pair ofspaced platforms, 'the-upper platform being positioned va suicientheightv above the lower-iso that workmen caribe accommodated upon thelatter in either a sitting or standing position so that workmen may useboth upper and rlower platforms 'or-stages. o

Both platforms are arranged so that they may be elevated -or lowered,andrprovision is made for Acontrol of the raising and loweringmechani'sm' from ,thel upper patform so that workmen will not be'obligedto descend in orderI to change the elevation of the platform.Similarly, a workman'ppon theupper platform may control the movement ofthe device from place to place and thus can move the scaffolding fromone place to another; as well as adjusting the staging vertically,without having to descendfrom the upper platform.tv

One object of the 4inventionis to provide an improved portablescaffolding or staging for decorators and other workmen.

A further object ofthe invention is toprovde a device of thel characterdescribed which will be automotive inthe sense that it can be propelledfrom place to place by Workmen on the platforms.

A' still further object of the invention is to provide a'mcvable stagingor scaffolding with two spaced platforms, one being mounted above theother; and to provide means for raising and lowering" the platforms soas to support the workmen thereon at the proper height. o

Still another object of the invention is to provide adevicel of thecharacter described wherein the raising and lowering mechanism of theplatv Application September 14, 1949, Serial No. 115,628

2 forms, as well as the propelling mechanism for the supporting truck ofthe device, will be controllable from a point adjacent the upperplatform.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which will be of proper dimensions so thatrit maypass through a door of ordinary size in order that the device may beused for interior as well as exterior work.

. To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In theraccompanying drawings: Y Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of aportable scaffolding'embodying vour invention; Fig. 2 is a frontelevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of thedevi-ce;- Fig. 4 is a top plan view; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectionalview taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3; j Fig. 6 is a partial vertical sectiononline 6-6 of Fig. 2; f" Fig. 6A is a detail elevational view of themeans for supporting the cylinder;

- Fig. 'Tis a sectional view on line `I'I Vof Fig.V 6; Fig. 8 isafragmentary detail view'of a part of the control mechanism; Fig. 9 is atop plan view of a slightly modied form of our device; V Fig. 10 is asectional view on line Ill- I0 of Fig. 9; Fig. Al1 is a sectional viewsimilar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form of our invention; 1

' Figs. 12, i3, 14 and 15 are sectional views taken respectively onlines I2-I2, I3 ,I3, I4-I4, and I5-I5 ofFig. ll1; 'j Fig. 16 is asectional view through the upper portion of the cylinder and ram of amodified form of our invention.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of our invention, we have shown asupporting truck comprising a supporting frame consisting oflongitudinal members Ill and II and transverse members I2 together withforwardly converging members I 3 and I4 at the front end' of the frameWhere a steering wheel I5 is carried, as will be described hereinafter.At the rear end of the frame an axle IS is rotatably supportedinlorack-V ets I1, and ground wheels or floor wheels I8 and 9 arecarried by the axle. The 'wheel I8 is secured to the axle to act as adrive wheel, while the Wheel i9 may rotate freely upon the axle. Theaxle is designed to be driven by a pulley 20 from a belt 2| to propelthe device from place to place, as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

A steering wheel l5 is mounted upon the frame to rotate upon a verticalaxis, and, as shown more especially in Fig. 5, a plate 22 is secured tothe Wheel structure, which plate is provided with arcuate side edges 23about which are trained the ends of a cable 24, this cable being securedto the plate 22 and at its bight portion being trained about a steeringpulley 26.

Referring particularly t Figs. l, 5 and 6, a hollow sleeve 23 is securedto the truck frame substantially centrally thereof, this sleeve beingsupported by members 29. The lower end of a cylinder 32 is removablyreceived within this sleeve member. To the lower end of the cylinder apair of rings 30 are secured, the upper of these rings having aprojecting peripheral flange 3l which extends over and rests upon theupper edge of the sleeve 23 so that the cylinder is supported by theupper ring. The lower end of the cylinder is closed by a plate 33.Within the cylinder a hollow ram 34 is slidably mounted. The cylinder isprevented from rotating within the sleeve 28 by a. lug or pin 31a (Fig.6A) projecting downwardly from the flange 3l to be received in a recess3lb provided in the upper edge of the sleeve 28.

The lower end of the ram is closed by a plug 35 and pressure fluid maybe admitted to the cye linder below the ram through a port 36 in theplate 33 and a tube 31 leading to the port 36 from a source of fluidpressure, as will be hereinafter explained.

At the upper end of the cylinder 32 is a collar 39 to which is secured achannel-shaped member 40 forming a guideway for a purpose to behereinafter explained. The lower end of the member 40 is secured to theupper sleeve 35 which is rigid with the cylinder 32. A clamp device 4E(Fig. '7) embraces the cylinder 32 and is clamped f therearound by thebolts 42. The clamp members 4|,as shown in Fig. 6, are provided withvertically elongated openings 43, one upon each Side of the cylinder, sothat properly shaped beams or rods may be passed therethrough to raisethe cylinder from the supporting truck when desired. Packing material 44may be provided about the ram 34 within the collar 39, the packing beingheld in place by the gland 45. The cylinder may be raised by the angleirons 51, hereinafter described.

Within the upper end of the hollow ram 34 is slidably tted a plug 41 towhich is secured a supporting plate 4S which in turn carries the upperplatform or stage 49. made of any desired size and of any suitableconstruction. As shown, it comprises a platform 55 supported upon angleirons I. It will be apparent that with this construction the plug 47,together with the upper stage 49, which is secured thereto, may beremoved freely and easily from the hollow ram 34 when it is desired todisassemble the device, as the plug 41 merely rests slidably within theram.

Secured to the ram 34 is a rectangular plate 53, and secured to anddepending from this plate is an elongated hollow shield 54, ofrectangular shape in cross section, which covers the cylinder 32 andwhich is, of course, movable with the hollow ram. Secured to the lowerend of the shield 54, as shown more especially in Fig. 6, is a key 55which ts within the channel-shaped guide member 40 and slidestherewithin during raising and lowering movements of the ram. As thisguide member 40 is secured to the cylinder This stage can be 32, thisengagement of the key within the guideway will prevent turning movementso f the ram within the cylinder. As the plate 53 is of rectangular shapeand fits between two of the angle irons 5|, this will prevent the upperstage 49 from turning upon the hollow ram 34.

With the above construction, it will be seen that when iluid pressure isintroduced into the cylinder 32 below the ram 34 through the opening 36,the ram will be raised and will raise the upper stage 49 to the desiredextent and, at the same time, this stage will be prevented from rotatingwith respect to the frame of the truck. The guide channel is closed atthe top and the key 55 will, when the ram has been raised to its upperlimit, abut the closed end of the channel which will act as a stop tolimit further raising movement. It is understood that the shield 54being secured to the plate 53 will be raised with the ram and this willalso serve to raise the lower stage or platform, as will be hereinafterexplained. The shield also serves to protect the ram and prevent dust ordirt from collecting on it.

Secured to the shield 54 adjacent the lower end thereof are a pair ofangle irons 51, and upon these angle irons is supported a lower stage orplatform 58, this platform being secured to the angle irons by bolts 59(Fig. 7) so that by the removal of the bolts the lower platform may beraised upwardly and removed from the shield after the upper platform hasbeen removed as previously described. Thus, the entire machine may bereadily disassembled into four parts consisting of the upper platformwhich with the attached plug 41 may be lifted freely from the ram 34,the lower platform which may be lifted from the shield after the bolts59 are removed and the upper platform taken 01T, the staff comprisingthe shield 54, the ram and the cylinder,.and, lastly, the wheeled truck.It is understood that the cylinder may be lifted freely from the sleeve28 after the connections to the tube 31 have been removed. n

'The lower stage, as shown in the drawings, is slightly wider than theupper stage but of substantially the same length and both are ofsubstantially the same length as the body of the truck. The triangularshape of the truck body brings the center thereof to a position slightlyforward of the staff so that if necessary to brace the truck at anytime, outriggers may be secured thereto at a point midway between thewheels, which will be forwardly of the staff.

A ladder 60 may be provided at each end of vthe lower platform, theladder reaching to the upper platform so as to provide means by whichthe workmen may reach the upper platform. The lower ends of the sidemembers of the lad- I der may rest in sockets 6I in the lower platform,

as shown in Fig. 1, and project through openings 62 in the upperplatform.

The means by which the movements of the truck and the raising andlowering movements of the ram may be effected and controlled will now bedescribed.

Mounted upon the truck adjacent its rear end is an electric motor 64,the shaft of which carries a pulley 55 which, through a belt 65, drivesa pulley 3'! secured to the shaft of an oil pump 68. The oil pump isprovided with an intake line 69 which leads through a filter 'I0 to anoil supply tank Il mounted on the forward portion of the truck frame. Y

The delivery line 12 of the pump 68 leads to a relief valve 13 soconstructed that if the pressure is too high the discharge from the pump68 will be connected with the pipe 14 which is in turn connected withthe 'relief line 15 which leads back to the supply tank 1|. If, however,the relief valve 13 is closed, the delivery from the pump 68' leadsthrough .the pipe 12 and the relief lvalve 13 into the pipe 16, whichdelivers oil into two valve mechanisms 11 and 18.

The valve 11 is so arranged that it may connect the pipe 16 with theduct 31, previously described, which leads into the lower end of thecylinder 32 (Fig. 6), orwhen turned to another position this valvecloses the line 16 and connects the duct 31 to the return line 15 so asIto drain the oil from the cylinder 32 and permit it to ow back into thetank 1|, the ram and platforms carried thereby dropping by gravity to alower position.

To the valve 11 is connected a square sleeve 80, and telescoped withinthis sleeve is a square stem 8| (Figs. l and 8), this stem beingsecuredat its upper end to a thimble 82 rotatably mounted in a bracket 83supported'bythe shield 54. One the upper end of the thimble is a controlarm 84 which is shown in Fig. 4 in a neutral position in `full lines,and in two other positions in dotted lines. It will be apparent that asthe upper platform is raised or lowered the stem 8| may slide Within thehollow square sleeve 80 so that an operator on either of the platforms49 or 58 may reach the control arm and control the position of the valve11. In the full-line position of the control arm, the valve is sodisposed that the line 15 will be closed and the fluid delivered by thepump 68 will return to the tank 1| by way of the relief valve. When thearm 84 is in one of the dottedline positions,v the fluid pressure willbe delivered to the cylinder 32 and the ram will be raised to the extentdesired or to the extent permitted by the length of the ram,thus'raising both o-f the platforms. When the control arm 84 is in theother dotted-line position, the lower end of the cylinder' will beconnected with the return line 15 to the tank 1| and will allow the oilto drain from the cylinder and the two platforms'to drop gradually undergravity.

Similarly a hollow sleeve 85 is secured to` the valve 18 (Fig. 6) and asquare stem 86 slidably received in thissleeve connects the sleeve withthe control arm 81 for operation thereby so that this valve may beplaced either in a. neutral position, as shown in full lines on'Fg. 4,or in either of the two dotted-line positions shown in this figure. jThe valve 18 kis connected by two lines 89 and 90 with a iinid motor 9|which is similar tothe pump S8, but which works in reverse. That is,fluid under pressure isl delivered to the motor 9| and causes the rotorthereof to rotate. The rotation of this rotor drives the shaft 92vwhich, through changed speed gearing 93, drives the pulley 94 which inturn drives the belt 2:| (Fig. 3, previously described) which in turndrives the axle I6 to propel the truck.

The neutral or full-line position of the control arm 81 shown in Fig. 4places the valve 18 in position so that both of the lines 89 and 90 willbe closed and, if the pump 68 is in operation, the

oil will pass through the return line 15 to the tank1| If, however, thearm 81 is moved to one of thedotted-line positions, oil'will bedelivered through the pipe 89 to the motor 9| which will drive the shaft92 in a direction Vto propel the truck in a forward direction, the oilreturning -through the pipe 90, valve 18,'and return line 15 to thetank.` If, however, the control arm 81 is moved to the other dotted-lineposition, oil will be delivered through the pipe 90 to the motor 9|, andthe shaft 92 will be driven in a direction to propel the truckrearwardly, the oil returning through the pipe 89. It will beapparent,therefore, that both the raising and lowering movements of the platformsand the propulsion of the device from place to place'are accomplished bymeans of fluid pressure generated by the pump B8, which is in turndriven by the motor 64. Moreover, these movements may all be controlledfrom either platform at a point adjacent the upper platform. It may herebe noted that the control arms 84 and 81, as shown in Fig. 4, protrudebeyond the upper platform so that they may be readily accessible. As thepump is-one of the positive displacement type, no brake is necessary asthe motor will lock when the oil pressure is shut off.

A drain line 96 leads from the pump 68 to the supply tank 1| and,similarly, a drain line 91 leads from the motor 9| to the oil supplytank.

The truck may be steered by means of the steering arm 98 (Fig. 4) whichis connected t0' the pulley 26 by the extensible connection 99 similarto the extensible connections described for the control arms 84 and 81.The upper end of this connection is likewise rotatably mounted in abracket |00 secured to the shield 54 just below the platform 50 in aposition conveniently accessible to an operator upon the platform. Aswill be apparent, turning the pulley 26 in one direction or the otherwill move the cable 24 and thus turn the steering wheel I5.

A reel l0| is rotatably mounted at the forward end of the truck, thisreel having wound there-- about a cord |02 having on the end thereof a.

plug |03 for connection'to a wall socket to enable` current to besupplied to the motor 64 and, at the same time, permit the truck to bemoved from place to place. An electric cable |04 leads fro-m the reel|0i to a junction box |05 from which the cable |06 leads to the motor64. A second cable |01 leads from the junction box to a reel |00rotatably mounted onthe frame adjacent the stan, and av cable I|0 leadsfrom this reel to a push-button switch mounted on the shield 54 adjacentthe upper end thereof, so that this push-button control may be reached.from either of the platforms. It will be understood that thispush-button switch connects the wires in the cablev |04 with those ofthe cable |06 to control the operation of the motor, so that anvoperator on either of the platforms can control the movements of thedevice from place to place.'

as well as the raising and lowering of the platforms. f

The upper platform 50 is provided with an elongated slot 59H which willbe found useful in anchoring a chair or seat upon the upper platform andwill also be useful in supporting planking or the like which may extendfrom the platform 5t of one of the devices to the platform of a seconddevice when two are used together. In other words, two of the devicesmay be placed in parallel relation and planks may extend from them withtheir ends restingupon the two platforms, thus making a continuousstaging therebetween. These planks may be anchored in place by havingpins or nails projecting from their ends, which pins or nails will bereceived in the slots 50a. As shown more especially in Fig. l, theoutlet 31 which leads from the lower end of the cylinder 32 is providedwith a coupling 312i` which may be quickly disconnected when it isdesired to raise the stair comprising the shield 54, cylinder 32 and ram34, from the truck.

In Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, we have shown a slightly modifiedform of our invention in which the truck is arranged to rest upon atrack or rails. In this instance, the truck will be provided withforward and rea-r axles i I and H8 upon which are mounted hanged wheelsso that they will follow the rails, and, in this case, the forwardsteering wheel will be raised so that it is no longer in contact withthe ground or iioor. In other respects this modification is constructedsimilarly to that shown in Figs. 1 to 8.

In Figs. ll to of the drawings, we have shown a modified form of ourinvention in which two movable rams are employed with a cylinder on thebase in order to provide :for a greater range of elevation of theplatforms. The construction is similar to that previously describedexcept that means must ce provided ior preventing the turning of theplatforms, and also to limit the movement of the rams to prevent the ramfrom being driven from the corresponding cylinder.

As shown in the sectional view of Fig. 11, a cylinder is removablysupported upon the base as shown at |29 which is similar to the cylinder32, shown in Fig. 6, and supported from the base in the same way. Uponeach side of this cylinder is provided a guide rib |2l, these ribsextending longitudinally or vertically of the cylinder and being atdiametrically opposite points.

Movably mounted within this cylinder is a holn low ram |22, at the upperend of which is a collar |23 to which is secured shield portions |23. Asshown in Figs. 13 and 14 these shield portions are of segmental forniand, while they extend longitudinally substantially the full length ofthe Cyl- 1J inder, their edges do not meet so that a space is lefttherebetween. Secured to the lower ends oi the shield members, |2li, asshown in Fig. 14, are guide segments V25. The edges of these guidesegments are spaced apart so as to cooperate with the ribs |2| andprevent turning movement of the ram |22 in the cylinder HQ. The segments|2 are quite shallow, as shown in Fig. 11.

Slidably mounted within the hollow ram |22 is a second ram |25, andremovably mounted in the upper end of this ram is a plug |21 similar tothe plug 4l. This plug carries a plate |28 to which is secured the upperstage or platform |29 in the same manner as is described in connectionwith the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 8.

Secured to the upper end of the ram llt` is a plate |30 to which issecured a covering shield |31 of rectangular cross section, as shown inFig. l2. scope over the members |24, which in turn telescope over thecylinder |29. The lower stage |32 is secured to the shield |3| just asthe platiorm 58 is secured to the shield 54.

A guide channel i3d is secured at the inner surface of one side of theshield iBl, as shown in Fig. 12, this guide being closed at the bottomby a projecting lug |35. Within the channel |34 is adapted to slide akey |36 secured to the collar |23 so that the key |36 is nxed to the ram|22. This guides the ram |23 in its movements within the ram |22 andprevents any relative turning movement between the two rams so as toprevent turning movements of the platform. From Figs. 12 and 13, it willbe noted that the As will be apparent, this shield will tele-r 8.channel guideway |34 and the key |35, which slides therein, are disposedbetween the spaced ends of the shield members |24 so that the guidechannel can project inwardly between these members to receive the key|36 which projects outwardly from the ram |22.

As also shown in Fig. 11, the controls are arranged in three telescopingsections so that they will follow the movements of the rams |22 and |26.One of these controls is shown in Fig. 1l in the drawings, whichcomprises the three sections |38, |39, and |40, the upper sectiontelescoping into the section |39 and the latter in turn telescoping intothe lower section |38. The upper section |40 is secured to the shield|2li in the same manner as described in connection with the controlsections 35 and 85 of Fig. 6.

It may sometimes be desirable to space the platforms and 53 a greaterdistance apart in order to permit standing room for workmen on the lowerplatform. We have shown in Fig. l5 a convenient method of raising theupper platform when this is desired. As shown in this gure of thedrawings, a spacing post i135 has a reduced lower end |l|6 which may bereceived in the upper end oi the hollow ram 3i, thus replacing the plugil when the latter is removed, together with the platform Eil. Thereduced lower end of this sleeve provides an annular shoulder Ui? whichmay rest upon the plate 53 so as to support the post |45. The upper endof the post HES is bored out as shown at litt to receive the in [el soas to mount the platform thereon.

In order that the controls may be also ex tended upwardly to a pointadjacent the platform Eil when it is raised by the use of a spacingpostV |45, the stem ii or each of the control members is extendedthrough the control arm ill, slidably received on this stem is a squaresleeve |138, the upper end of which is connected to a control arm Iii@rotatably carried by a bracket i secured to the spacing post |45. Alsosecured to the post |f35 is a lug |52 having a pin |53 which is receivedin an opening in the plate to prevent the post from turning, while theplatform iiii is prevented from turning on the post by a pin |55 securedto the plate i8 which is received in an opening in a lug |56 secured tothe post. When the platform 5L! is supported as shown in Fig. 6, theoverall height is such as to permit the device to pass through the usualdoor.

While we have shown and described some preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all ofthe details shown, but is capable of modification and variation withinthe spirit of the invention and within. the scope of the claims.

= What we claim is:

1. A portable scaffolding comprising a frame, a cylinder supported bysaid frame and rising vertically therefrom, a ram reciprocally supportedin said cylinder, an upper platform supported by said ram, a shieldsupported at the upper end of the ram and extending downwardly therefromin external telesooping relation with the cylinder, and a lower platformsecured to said shield in spaced relation to the upper platform.

A portable scaffolding comprising a frame, a cylinder supported by saidframe and rising vertically therefrom, a ram reciprocally supported insaid cylinder, an upper platform supported oy said ram, a shieldsupported at the upper end of the ram and extending downwardly therefromin telescoping relation with the cylinder, a lower platform secured tosaid shield in spaced relation to the upper platform, and means forpreventing rotation of the platforms with respect to the cylinder, saidmeans comprising a guide member secured to the cylinder and a keysecured to the shield and slidably received in said guide member.

3. A portable scaffolding comprising a Wheeled frame, a stai rising fromthe frame and comprising an outer cylinder and a ram slidably receivedWithin the cylinder', an upper platform vsupported by said ram at theupper end thereof,

means for supplying uid pressure to said cylinder to raise said ram,duid-pressure operated means to drive the Wheels of said frame to propelthe scaffolding from place to place, a shield member secured to the ramadjacent the upper end thereof and extending downwardly to embrace thecylinder, and a lower platform supported by the shield lmember in spacedrelation to the upper platform, and controlling means for said supplyingmeans and for said propelling means, both said controlling means beingposin tioned between said platforms to be accessible from both thereof.

ELLSWORTI-I J. GETIY.

REVERE E. CLAPP.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

